In April, lying on his back at his hometown gym in Trenton, N.J., he lowered and lifted, lowered and lifted, pumping out a short set with a 385-pound barbell.

The pyramid exercise involves a gradual increase in weight and, with it, a decrease in number of repetitions per set. Troutman added more weight, starting a three-rep set at 405.

One, two, onto three ...

“And then it just gave out,” Troutman said.

Chargers rookies will report to training camp on July 22 and hit the field the 23rd, but Troutman knew the moment he felt a sharp sting in his chest, less than two weeks before the NFL Draft, that he'd be operating on a different schedule.

This month, while recovering from a torn pectoral muscle, he is expected to be placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He will likely miss all of training camp.

Troutman's initial reaction to the injury was, well, about right.

"I cursed myself out," the former Penn State guard said during the Chargers' nine-week offseason workout program, which concluded last month. "I know I'm hurt pretty bad. I probably messed up my chances of being drafted and making a team. I feared the worst, but it wasn't my first time with injuries.

"I know they occur. I was just trying to look at the positive side. Get it fixed, and if not this year, then next year, (play). That's the way I'm looking at it now. The way I'm sitting, I'm just trying to get back as soon as possible."

It'd be a pleasant surprise if it was this year.

The Chargers can keep Troutman on PUP through the start of the regular season, rendering him inactive for the first six games.

There's then a three-week window in which Troutman can begin practicing. The team has three weeks after he starts practicing to add him to the 53-man roster, or they must place him on season-ending injured reserve.

The odds of, in three weeks, becoming physically ready as a rookie — after missing organized team activities, and minicamp, and all of training camp — would be against Troutman. But his goal is to give it his best shot.

It starts upstairs with mental reps.

"I'd love to hit the field," Troutman said. "I'd love to come back. I'm definitely pushing myself now to learn the plays so when the opportunity does arise, I can take advantage of it. ... I definitely want to come in here and work hard and prove them right about their choice."

Troutman underwent pec surgery days before draft day.

The same teams who told him they'd given him a third-round grade said he'd been dropped off their board, Troutman said. Teams expressed desire to call him after the draft and sign him as a free agent.

The Chargers didn't allow them a chance.

Taking Troutman in the fifth round was a short-term sacrifice that can pay long-term dividends, says Hal Hunter, the team's offensive coordinator and line coach.

"We know he's not going to be ready until October," Hunter said last month. "But come October, we're going to get a guy who probably should have been drafted a lot earlier if he'd have been healthy. Short run, it's hard. Long run, it's going to be a good situation.

"He's a great kid. Very attentive. Smart. I've watched a lot of college tape. He was a tough, hard-nosed guy. He was a very productive player. I'm glad we got him."